After quenching the thirsts of beer drinkers for 800 years, one pub is calling
last orders for pints.

The Black Lion in Kilburn, north-west London, is taking the extreme step of ripping out all of its beer taps and pulling its last pint next week in protest over prices charged by owner Enterprise Inns.

The pub’s landlord claims it will become the first pub in Britain to remove all of its beer taps as it wages a David and Goliath-style war against Enterprise.

Brian Mannion, 45, says he is forced to pay prices for certain draught beers that are 66pc above market rates.

He has a “beer tie” agreement with Enterprise, which obliges him to buy ale and lager from the parent company. But he says the prices charged for draught beer are forcing him to operate “with one hand tied behind his back” as he can’t pass the price rises on to his drinkers, who will simply go elsewhere.

The Black Lion will continue to serve bottled beer but will concentrate on selling wine, spirits, cocktails and food, which it doesn’t have to source from Enterprise Inns.

The row is typical of the sort of conflict that has led the Government to propose a powerful new organisation that will police the relationship between large tenanted pub groups and their landlords.

A government consultation is under way on proposals to create an adjudicator with the power to fine large pub companies that are found to have mistreated their tenants.

“We are paying 66pc more on some products than a free-of-tie pub and it’s very difficult to compete on that level,” said Mr Mannion, who is holding a “draught wake” to commemorate pulling The Black Lion’s last pint.

Simon Townsend, chief operating officer of Enterprise Inns, said: “When he purchased the lease from a previous publican, Mr Mannion was fully aware of the contractual terms he agreed to.

“Enterprise works with thousands of successful publicans and it is very unfortunate that Mr Mannion is seeking to undermine the business relationship in this way.”